Lady Rams win over Hamilton

The Rams struggled in the early season but got their feet under them to snag their first division win against the Hamilton Lions Jan. 7.
The Lions jumped out early in the first quarter with Ryan Robert’s trey and had a 9-2 lead but Kent Casey’s deuce and Ken Moye’s rebound and dish to Devian Walker for a bucket helped bring the Vardaman boys within three points midway through the quarter.
Tavis Townsend hit from the charity stripe to start off the second period and Michael McKinney added a goal to keep the Rams climbing up the scoreboard.
Quon Cummings steal to the hole and Walker’s deuce helped close the gap and the Rams went into the break down by five.
The Rams outscored the Lions in the third and kept up a steady forward motion through the fourth to take a 51-50 division win.
“The guys played hard the whole game and put themselves in a positive situation with their effort,” said coach Tim Vaughn of the win.
The Rams, now 1-1 in division, will travel to Smithville for their next district bout Jan. 21.

Lady Rams lead the way
In the early game, the Lady Rams led the Lady Lions 26-17 at the break and didn’t let up in the second half.
Danicqua Stephens started the Lady Rams off in the third with a steal and a goal and Niesha Willis sank one from the post. Tiara Jones got a deuce to extend the Vardaman girls lead to seven and the Lady Rams sailed on to a 50-42 win. Alaysia Madkins block kept the Hamilton girls from making a final goal.
Coach Deanna Winter said the win was nice and the team play looked positive.
“It was better,” Winter said of the win that moved the Lady Rams to 2-0.
The JV Lady Rams also posted a win, 24-4, over the Lady Lions.

City sweeps
The Wildcats and Lady Wildcats came to town Jan. 10 and handed both Vardaman teams losses.
The Lady Rams fell, 37-81, to the Lady Wildcats and the Rams took a 40-76 loss to the Calhoun City boys.
Both teams were back in action Tuesday night as they headed to Houlka for division games.